Catalog
10 Rupees
| Issuer | Reserve Bank of India |
|---|---|
| Year | 1970-1990 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Size | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Printer | Log in to see details |
| Designer(s) | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | P#81 |
| Obverse description | The Ashoka Column capital (Lion Capital of Sarnath) is rendered in intaglio at the right, set above a decorative floral guilloche underprint in shades of pink, teal, and orange. At centre, the denomination numeral '10' appears in large bold print flanked by the promise text in English and Hindi, with the Governor's signature below; the watermark window at left is enclosed within an ornate scrollwork border. A vertical panel of denomination inscriptions in fifteen Indian scripts occupies the centre-left, with the Reserve Bank of India seal at lower left. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Signature(s) | Log in to see details |
| Protection type | Log in to see details |
| Protection description | The watermark window bears the Ashoka Pillar capital surrounded by six Dharma chakras; the central band of the note carries the letters 'RBI' printed diagonally, followed by the numeral '10' to the right. |
| Variants | Log in to see details |
| Comments |
Pick 81 spans two decades and no fewer than seven signature combinations, making it one of the more administratively complex entries in the post-independence RBI series. The long run reflects India's reluctance to redesign low-denomination notes during a period of significant monetary pressure — the 1970s brought successive droughts, oil shocks, and the fiscal strain of the 1971 war, yet the note design remained essentially frozen. The plate letter variants (A, B, C appearing under Patel, Singh, and Malhotra respectively) were introduced as print-run tracking identifiers, not security upgrades.
Narasimham's tenure as RBI Governor lasted only a few months in 1977, making his signature on this issue notably short-lived.